£20,000 to assist Red Cross in East Africa

Very
poor rainfall in the Horn of Africa (which includes Somalia, Kenya,
Djibouti, Ethiopia and Uganda) has led to the driest period in 60 years
for some areas, causing severe drought which is threatening the lives of
over 10 million people according to the United Nations humanitarian agency (OCHA).

Drought
conditions have led to food insecurity and water scarcity, in turn
exacerbating high malnutrition rates. With no rains in sight there are
strong fears that the situation will rapidly unfold. According to OCHA,
an estimated 250,000 children under five are suffering from moderate
acute malnutrition and 40,000 are suffering from severe acute
malnutrition within the region - high impact nutrition interventions are
a priority.

The daily decline in health and sanitation, combined
with the separation of families due to migration, is increasing the
impact of food insecurity, malnutrition and risk of mortality.

In
response to this situation the President of the Grand Charity has
approved an initial emergency grant of £20,000 to the British Red Cross, to
provide emergency relief across the region.